Handbook to the Mennonite Hymnary

by Lester Hostetler

538. Dark the day on Calvary’s Cross

Lauchlan MacLean Watt, 1867—

A Scottish hymn composed by Lauchlan MacLean Watt who was born in Scotland and educated in the Edinburgh University. Watt entered the ministry of the Scottish Presbyterian Church and attained the charge of Glasgow Cathedral in 1923, remaining until his resignation in 1934. In 1933 he was Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland. He is the author of numerous books and served on the Committee for the Revision of the Church Hymnary, Edinburgh, 1927.

MUSIC. NICHT SO TRAURIG, also called “Pressburg,” is from Freylinghausen’s Neues Geistreiches Gesangbuch, 1714, where it is set to Gerhardt’s hymn, “Nicht so traurig, nicht so sehr.” The melody has been simplified somewhat from the original to fit the English words. It was included in the Hymnary for choir use during the season of Lent.